Firefighters Complete Two Dramatic Rescues This Week

Two dramatic rescues occurred this week involving women trapped in dangerous situations on opposite coasts. In Virginia Beach, firefighters rescued a woman from a stalled elevator by rappelling seven stories down the shaft and safely hoisting her to the ninth floor without injuries. In San Fernando, California, Los Angeles firefighters freed a 30-year-old woman stuck about three feet inside a chimney atop a municipal outbuilding at a recreation center after she was seen dancing on the roof. The rescue took over an hour, and the woman was hospitalized in fair condition. Authorities are investigating the San Fernando incident, noting that the woman was not affiliated with the center and reportedly returned the next day trying to access the roof again. Both rescues showcase the technical expertise of emergency responders in handling unusual public emergencies.